A series of immersive, site-specific performances that turn the Berlin Neue Nationalgalerie Sculpture Garden into a dynamic, spatial sound installation, Soundscapes in the Garden invites audiences to explore new synergies between sculpture and sound by using spatial audio as a sculptural medium in itself.
At the heart of the 2025 experience is the d&b Soundscape system, allowing this year’s artists to use sound as a creative, spatial tool.
The Soundscape system integrates two software modules – En-Scene enables precise positioning and movement of sound sources, while En-Space provides real-time acoustic emulation. En-Space not only enhances the spatial depth of a performance but also creates a controlled, closed acoustic environment that benefits both the artist and the audience. For artists, it offers a sensual sonic shell, providing the safety and response of a real physical space. For the audience, it ensures a rich, enveloping sound experience that brings them closer to the performance.
Taking place during August, the event builds on the legacy of the museum’s Jazz in the Garden series from the 1970s and its 2022 revival, Sound in the Garden. This new chapter features three evenings of live performance that blur the boundaries between sound, space and sculpture. Participating artists, who will work with immersive audio tailored to the layout of the garden and its artworks, include Alva Noto, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Stephen O’Malley, Pantha du Prince, pianist Hania Rani, Loraine James, Blackhaine and sound artist Limpe Fuchs.
‘From the legendary Jazz in the Garden series to the Kraftwerk concerts a few years ago, ambitious approaches to live music have been a crucial, yet sometimes overlooked, facet of the Neue Nationalgalerie’s history, ‘says Gregor Quack, Volkswagen Group Fellow and Live Programs Curator at the Freunde der Nationalgalerie. ‘With Soundscapes in the Garden, we are continuing that legacy, but now we have the freedom to experiment musically and spatially thanks to the support of d&b audiotechnik and the Soundscape system.’
‘I still remember when we had this great series of gigs with Kraftwerk back in 2015 at the Neue Nationalgalerie, just before the museum closed for renovation,’ recalls d&b audiotechnik Director of Creative Community, Ralf Zuleeg. ‘It was truly epic, and coming back ten years later to initiate this project feels completely natural. We’re working closely with an incredible group of artists and supporting all their creative concepts. And we’re proud to offer the tools and our creativity to bring their visions to life.
‘Mies van der Rohe’s Neue Nationalgalerie is renowned as one of the most iconic and beautiful museum buildings in the world, as well as being one of the most challenging,’ Quacksays. ‘Our garden is a space to walk around in, not one to stay glued to your seat, as in many concert halls. d&b Soundscape allows us to respect this because there is no longer just a single sweet spot in the garden, but practically one for every member of the audience. Artists and audiences can discover new dimensions to the live experience – both literally and figuratively.’
More: www.dbaudio.com